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Blatter´s sadness at Turina death

3 May 2013 16:47

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has expressed his sadness following the death of AIK goalkeeper Ivan Turina.

The 77-year old president of world football's governing body sent a letter to the presidents of the Swedish and Croatian football associations expressing his shock at the 32-year-old goalkeeper's death.

Turina collected one international cap in a career that started with his hometown club Dinamo Zagreb before seeing him play for Skoda Xanthi in Greece and Lech Poznan in Poland.

He arrived in Sweden in 2010 after impressing on trial and went on to make 65 appearances for AIK.

Turina started five of their six league games this season and had

established himself as the number one after two years at the club, he had recently signed a new three-year contract to extend his stay in

Stockholm.

On Thursday the club announced that the Croatian, who had a known congenital heart condition, had passed away in his sleep on Wednesday, the news shocked football and Blatter told both associations that he was thinking about them during this tough time.

"It is with profound sadness that I write to

you today, having learned of the sudden death of the Croatian AIK

goalkeeper Ivan Turina at the age of 32 – a young man with his whole

life before him," Blatter wrote.

"On behalf

of FIFA and the international football family, I wish to extend our

deepest condolences to the Swedish and Croatian football communities

and, most importantly, to the family, friends and loved ones of Ivan

Turina.

"Please let them know that the

entire football family stands by their side, and we wish them strength